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Savvy Lovie Smith

The Bucs sure got fans aroused this weekend after an offensive draft, giving whoever is quarterbacking the Bucs major weapons, and perhaps a couple of blockers, too.

Still, Andrew Astleford isn’t drinking the Kool-Aid. The Fox Sports Florida Bucs beat guy likes what he saw but isn’t quite willing to begin comparing the new Bucs to Air Coryell quite yet.

“What can I say?” Smith said. “First off, you can’t assume people are a certain way. I do believe in offensive football, and you can’t just win by defense. I know I have been telling you guys that. I know the actions are speaking a little bit louder than the words.”

Smith’s words received some laughs in a small room at One Buc Place. He fooled everyone the past three days. He came to the Bucs with the reputation as a smart defensive mind, something the Glazers saw up-close when he made his NFL coaching debut with them as a linebackers coach from 1996 to 2000.

Still, Smith is a savvy man. Even with a roster overhaul in free agency that took Wite-Out to the former roster, he knows this team has a long way to go. The problem remains on offense. The Bucs ranked 30th in scoring offense (18 points per game) and last in passing offense (176.2 yards per game) last year. Sometimes, it was silly to watch.

It is as if Astleford is saying, “Hello, this is 2014. Quarterback play determines how far you go in the postseason.” If that’s Astleford’s angle, Joe wholeheartedly agrees.

When Joe was chatting with Lovie at the NFL Scouting Combine, Lovie said once, in so many words, “We’re going to give you something to write about. We’re going to win some games.” Bucs general manager Jason Licht was on NFL Network last night all but saying Bucs fans should not have patience. It is time to win now.

The team has gone out and beefed up the defensive line, drafted all sorts of weapons on offense. With words and actions, the coaching staff and front office has sure put a lot of pressure on a guy who has limited starting experience and/or a guy who not only guided the Bucs in fewest passing yards in the NFL, but led them to the No. 32-ranked offense.

The Bucs have had relatively little depth at most positions for many years (since our Super Bowl I’d say). They put big money into a few players, but it was just a few for the most part. When injuries came along (and they always do), our weaknesses became very obvious.

Lovie and Jason appear to be taking a more ‘balanced’ approach to building this roster. And as a result, it looks to me like our team’s depth will be much better … not at all positions, but at many.

That was Seattle’s key last year: depth at most positions. We’re not there yet, but I sure do like what I’m seeing a LOT more than what I’ve seen for about the last 10 years or so.

Not ready to anoint them as NFC & Super Bowl champs yet though. Coaches still need to coach. Players still need to make plays. But our team’s foundation looks to be much improved (players and coaches) and I’m convinced Bucs fans have a lot to look forward to in coming years.

Who in your infinite wisdom JOE would have been ready to QB this team this year other than McCown or Glennon? If you say JM or any of the QB’s in the draft, then you’re a donkey’s @SS. Even you kept saying that it would be beneficial for Manziel to sit behind a veteran for a year. If that’s the case, then how does that help this team this year? Let’s face it, you and your media cronies are so butthurt that L&L didn’t heed your demands, you’re now [Lie No. 1]. Makes you all look so petty, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees it all for what it is. The local media just want let this team go into the season on a high note. Nope, always gotta play devil’s advocate. [Joe is not trying to get rid of Doug Martin. If you can’t see or hear why L&L drafted a running back, Joe can’t help you. If all you want is cheerleader rah-rah “the Bucs are great,” you should make this site your home page. –Joe]

Umm, Joe’s not the one who drafted a running back in the third round. Joe would have been proud to ride with Martin out of the backfield and use James and Rainey in complementary roles. Possibly Demps, too, if he proves he can catch. Don’t blame Joe for signing McCown to start and drafting a running back with a premium draft pick. –Joe

What’s unsettled about it? You may not like it, but it’s pretty well settled. McCown is the starter and Glennon is the future. If Glennon beats out McCown then great, if not he gets a year to learn under a strong, very smart veteran leader. Seems mighty settled to me.

Joe keep in mind that QB play depends on OL play, we must have been last in that also last year.

If the OL plays good, then we can determine if the QBs are good or not, assuming that the receivers and play calling is also good and the Benn Around type calling is gone also, along with the “we haven’t practiced it so even if it is working we can’t use it” mentality.

Bucs will be fine. We finally got a competent coach who addressed a lot of needs. People act like you can get everything in one offseason smh. Like it or not there are more then one way to win champions. Just ask Seattle. The last two Superbowl winning QBs are not elite to me they were just surrounded by very good teams which is what I feel Lovie is trying to do. So until we pick up that “Franchise” QB everybody is crying over I’m just over here hoping we win games collectively as a team. Go Bucs!!!

With words and actions, the coaching staff and front office has sure put a lot of pressure on a guy who has limited starting experience and/or a guy who not only guided the Bucs in fewest passing yards in the NFL, but led them to the No. 32-ranked offense.

It’s like an great army with a bad general or a Ferrari with
a toyota engine…
You know…all these offensive weapons with Glennon and McCown…

Joe,
Most sports radio heads and fish wrap writers in this town are up in arms over Bucs naming Glennon as the future QB here in Tampa. They are beside themselves that Smith and Licht had the audacity to pass on Johnny Football. They believe as a group the Smith and Licht are incompetent in their QB evaluation. I have yet to hear You or Steve Duemig, or Tom Jones, or Justin Pawlowsky or anyone else engage Smith and/or Licht on their incompetence. I would think if you guys had access to Licht/Smith/Tedford you all would express your outrage. But no one has. I just find it curious. Don’t you owe it to your fans?Umm, “outrage” is awfully strong. Joe can only speak for himself. There will be all kinds of Bucs decisions Joe will like this year, and those Joe will not like. Joe respects the reasoning Lovie and Licht have given for their moves to date, and Joe’s asked them about various moves and Joe has shared his own opinions publicly. There’s no “incompetent” feeling here about the work Lovie and Licht have done, merely some disagreement, which is what fans and analysts do. They agree and disagree. That’s sort of where it ends.–Joe

Agree with Harry & 1987 on second best head coach in the NFC South and will add 3rd best QB now that Newton no longer has Steve Smith bailing him out on the field and with leadership. Cam is good when things are going his way but once you get him rattled by adversity he quickly sulks and becomes a very average passer

Totally agree ” Least year was last year” You put Manning behind that OL with only Smith and VJax as your options.

All I hear from the media is Glennon doesn’t have the “It factor”. The IT factor is he had crappy coaching and a game plan that could not adjust to what the other team was playing. Please! Please! tell me one game where we were able to adjust to what the defense was doing.

Big Dog and all his cronies are not going to get fired if Johnny Football is rookie of the year and we fall flat on our face. I believe in Lovie, I believe in Licht, I believe in Tedford. These guys have there ass’s on the line. If they thought Johnny would bring us to the promised land they would have drafted him. Hell, if I was the Glazers I would have Joel at the draft, running the card up to the commish one second into our pick. But they didnt, they let the football guys make the football decision.

That takes balls. How many extra tickets would that have sold, how many jerseys, and everything else comes with drafting a Johnny football.

Our brain trust looked at the tape and looked at the talent. Manziel was productive with the talent that surrounded him. Is he a gifted athlete , YES!, but so is every other draft pick who has failed before.

Let Tedford get ahold of our boys for the summer. Sink or Swim I truly believe one of these guys is going to get it and finally make our offense something where i’m not getting up from my seat to go get another beer!

Yes, because we all know only 1 person is responsible for the offense and nobody else. Not a single other person on the team other than QB, much less a rookie, is to take the blame for the entirety of the offense.

I wish we had Drew Brees. That would make Lovie the #1 coach in our division. I think we all know QB is what makes teams a success. We have what we have which is alot better than last year. Lets let the situation play out all the smoke has not settled.

@Barry – Media Types IE sport reporters are just like Imbedded news reporters with the army at war. They eat the arms food, they have total access, they even are privy at times of secret information but when have you ever seen a positive , pro army report from this group? It is in their dna to be antagonistic, negative and try to have the war run the way they see fit. I just wish Joe and his two favorite radio people would not continue to let their disgust (they say they like him) and disdain of Glennon continue to drive their shows and reporting. I for one would like the Joes to write just one article that was about Glennon that was without barbs, negative innuendo, ridicule or sarcastic caricature.Sir, Joe can afford his own food. Joe is not an embedded member of the Bucs military requiring security and relying on Team Glazer and friends for his existence. So silly. Joe built this site without any access. It’s nice to have, but Joe wouldn’t falter if he were removed for treason. Joe writes numerous positives about the Bucs and Glennon. Joe brought plenty of positives from Glennon, especially at Super Bowl time. (Google Glennon, Gannon, JoeBucsFan). In fact, Joe shares Glennon praise routinely. –Joe